Each of the 12 members of the U.S. Olympic Team currently play in the WNBA, led by two-time Olympic gold medalists Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks), Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets) and Dawn Staley (Charlotte Sting). And, team captains from each of the United States teams competing in Athens chose Staley to carry the U.S. flag for the American delegation in today�s Opening Ceremonies.
The Australian Olympic Team features six current or former WNBA players, led by reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm) and 2002 WNBA All-Star Penny Taylor (Phoenix Mercury).
New York Liberty forward Elena Baranova (New York Liberty) is one of three members of the Russian Olympic squad with WNBA experience, while Brazil boasts eight players with WNBA backgrounds, and Spain will compete with six former WNBA athletes.
Other countries with players with WNBA pedigrees include the Czech Republic (3), Nigeria (3) and New Zealand (1).
The 2004 WNBA Season begins anew on September 1. Ratings for ABC�s and ESPN2�s telecasts of WNBA games are up 14 and 16 percent respectively from a year ago. The season-opening telecast featuring the Phoenix Mercury at the Connecticut Sun was the highest rated WNBA game (regular season or playoffs) ever on ABC, and the July 11 telecast featuring the Mercury at the New York Liberty was the highest rated WNBA regular season game ever on ESPN2.
A complete list of Olympic basketball players with WNBA experience follows:
| Player | Team | WNBA Years |
| Sue Bird | United States | 2002-present |
| Swin Cash | United States | 2002-present |
| Tamika Catchings | United States | 2001-present |
| Yolanda Griffith | United States | 1999-present |
| Shannon Johnson | United States | 1999-present |
| Lisa Leslie | United States | 1997-present |
| Ruth Riley | United States | 2001-present |
| Katie Smith | United States | 1999-present |
| Dawn Staley | United States | 1999-present |
| Sheryl Swoopes | United States | 1997-present |
| Diana Taurasi | United States | 2004-present |
| Tina Thompson | United States | 1997-present |
| Sandy Brondello | Australia | 1998-99, 2001-03 |
| Trish Fallon | Australia | 1999, 2001 |
| Kristi Harrower | Australia | 1998-99, 2001-03 |
| Lauren Jackson | Australia | 2001-present |
| Rachael Sporn | Australia | 1998-99, 2001 |
| Penny Taylor | Australia | 2001-present |
| Janeth Arcain | Brazil | 1997-2003 |
| Helen Luz | Brazil | 2001-03 |
| Iziane Marques | Brazil | 2002-03 |
| Adianna Moises Pinto | Brazil | 2001-02 |
| Alessandra Oliveira | Brazil | 1998-2001 |
| Cintia Santos | Brazil | 2000-02 |
| Kelly Santos | Brazil | 2001-02 |
| Leila Sobral | Brazil | 1998 |
| Romana Hamzova | Czech Republic | 2000 |
| Zuzana Klimesova | Czech Republic | 2001 |
| Michaela Pavlickova | Czech Republic | 2001, 2003 |
| Megan Compain | New Zealand | 1997 |
| Mactabene Amachree | Nigeria | 2001, 2003 |
| Itoro Umoh | Nigeria | 2003 |
| Mfon Udoka | Nigeria | 1998, 2003 |
| Elena Baranova | Russia | 1997-99, 2001, 2003-present |
| Ilona Korstine | Russia | 2001 |
| Maria Stepanova | Russia | 1998-2001 |
| Elisa Aguilar | Spain | 2002 |
| Elisabeth Cebrain | Spain | 1998 |
| Marina Ferragut | Spain | 2000 |
| Begona Garcia | Spain | 2002 |
| Nuria Martinez | Spain | 2004 |
| Amaya Valdemoro | Spain | 1998-2000 |